Exposed King (Boys of Brisley 2)

Chapter Twenty-One:

Don’t Take the L

We didn’t end up breakingthe drywall, but it was still a damn good night, and she agreed to a second date. I was in such a good mood on the way back to my hotel after dropping her off that I couldn’t wait — I called to finally tell my sister-in-law the good news.

“Zepp, be proud of me. I did it.”

“You what? Oh, guessing game? Okay, wait you ... oh my God, did you use a condom?”

My smile faded instantly. “No.”

“Ugh, Ollie. You really need to — never mind. Want me to keep guessing or do you hate my guesses too much?” She chuckled, but I didn’t think it was that funny.

“Kinda, yeah. Didn’t realize you were gonna come at me like that, Led.” I huffed, rubbing my jaw. “Mia went on a date with me yesterday.”

“Shit, I’m sorry. I was trying to be funny and I failed. Sorry. Okay, Mia went on a date with you? She finally agreed?”

I sighed quietly, though hearing it said out loud made me smile a little. “Took fuckin’ forever, didn’t it? But yeah. I’ll send you a pic, hang on.” The one of me in a banana suit was embarrassing but hilarious and adorable, so that was the one I sent. “Best first date I’ve ever been on.”

Her laughter actually helped me relax. “This is amazing and it will be framed. You guys look so happy — oh my god, she’s hot, Ol.”

“Fuckin’ right?” I whisper-yelled. “God, every inch of that woman makes me ready to burst into flame. But she’s ... more, Zepp. I’m fucking crazy about her.”

“Crazy about her sexually, or ...?” She was trying to get me to say it, to say those three words that sent people running for the hills or had them falling to their knees, and I had no problem with that.

“I’m in love with her, Led. I don’t give a shit how early it is or how dumb people are going to think I am. Something about her just ... calls to me, you know? She’s funny, she’s smart, she’s kind, she’s everything.”

“Ollie,” Zeppelin whispered, and I didn’t need to see her to know she was smiling. “That’s so fucking huge. I’m so happy for you I want to scream but Carl is asleep on my foot so I can’t, but ugh! Ollie! Love!”

I blushed, but I knew she’d understand way better than Sterling would, despite the fact that I knew he was in love with Zeppelin weeks before he did. “I’m nervous though. You know me, I’m a fucking disaster. Always have been. It’s a miracle I haven’t done something stupid yet.”

“Listen, everyone is a disaster. That’s what makes us fucking human. Everyone everywhere is a goddamn mess, but what is life, love, passion? All of it is messy. If she didn’t want to go out with you, she wouldn’t have. She knows you now. She agreed to go on a date with you, not some handsome, tall guy that came into her diner and hit on her. You.”

“The guy who sings her Van Morrison and dresses like a giant banana,” I agreed. “Yeah. You’re right.” I sat up a little straighter and relaxed slightly, though I knew I’d always be a little insecure. “Thanks. How’re things with you and Sterling?”

“Great. I got him to watch Disney movies with me, y’know. Every weekend, he has to sit with me and watch an entire Disney movie, and honestly, he likes them. Don’t tell him I told you.”

I chuckled, wishing I could be there to see that. “Knew that fucker would be soft for all the animal sidekicks.”

“Yup. He has one of his own, so we can’t be surprised.” Zeppelin laughed with me and then went back to Mia. “Have you told her yet? How you feel?”

“Nah, I’m trying not to scare her. I’ve asked her to marry me about twelve times, though. She’s understandably said no.”

“Fair. But something tells me she’s already considering yes. I can see it in her eyes.”

“That’s just tequila,” I laughed. “A fuckload of banana drinks and tequila.”

“Banana drinks sound disgusting, but I won’t go there. How’s the house coming along?”

I grimaced. “Would you buy it if I tried the whole ‘going through a tunnel’ thing?”

“Nope. What happened?” Her tone shifted to something more businesslike, which only made me feel a little better.

“Look, Led. Please don’t say anything to Sterling, you know how he is. He’ll just come down and fix it and I’m trying to stand on my own for once. I love him and wouldn’t be alive without him, but it’s time, y’know? I gotta do this alone.”

“Fuck me running, what happened? I wouldn’t let him go down there anyway. You know how we feel about planes, and believe it or not, that guy does what I say. But also don’t tell him I said that.”

It didn’t surprise me at all. “Your secret is safe with me. Angel and Destiny’s daughter flushed a diaper down the toilet and it got stuck in one of the pipes, apparently. The whole fucking place was flooded, but I’m handling it. Or rather ... I hired people to handle it. I’m just not gonna get jack shit from this house profit-wise anymore. Between the original renovations and the repairs, I think I’m actually gonna take a loss.”